Automated vulnerability scanning is a cybersecurity process that uses specialized software tools to systematically identify security weaknesses within applications, networks, and systems without manual intervention. These tools leverage comprehensive databases of known vulnerabilities and employ various techniques including Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), and Software Composition Analysis (SCA) to detect coding errors, injection flaws, insecure dependencies, and exposed sensitive data.

As a cornerstone of modern DevSecOps practices, automated vulnerability scanning enables organizations to "shift left" by integrating security checks earlier in the software development lifecycle. This approach provides continuous, scalable, and repeatable security assessments that help development and operations teams swiftly detect and remediate security flaws, reduce attack surfaces, ensure compliance with industry standards, and maintain a strong overall security posture.